Ashleigh Ostberg

JOHN DAY – When she’s not babysitting, hanging out with friends or reading books, Ashleigh Ostberg is practicing spelling this summer.

The 11-year-old qualified for the Oregon Statewide Spelling Championship to be held at the Oregon State Fair Saturday, Aug. 30.

It will be her first time attending the fair in Salem; she said she’s excited about the contest and the rides.

The daughter of Fred and Shilo Ostberg of John Day, Ashleigh gained the opportunity to compete after finishing second place – winning a Kindle Reader – in the May 7 Grant County spelling bee in Division 1 for elementary students.

First-place winners are selected to compete at the state fair, however, this year’s winner Thomas Kreamier of Long Creek School was unable to attend, giving Ashleigh the opportunity.

Ashleigh, who will start sixth grade at Humbolt Elementary in Canyon City this fall, is not new to success at spelling bees.

She’s qualified for the Grant County contest for four consecutive years, winning first place in third grade and third in second grade.

She’ll compete against 25 other Division I students in Salem.

Overall, there will be 59 spellers in the contest, registered from 25 Oregon counties – this includes middle and high school students.

Memorizing spelling words is becoming a daily activity for Ashleigh as she prepares for the event.

“I study the words off of the Oregon Spellers website,” she said. “Mom writes them down and does a mini spelling bee and gives them to me.”

She recalls the toughest word she had at the Grant County spelling bee this year was “colloquial.”

“That was the hardest word – it’s a written contest,” she said.

At the championship, she has the option of the written and/or oral spelling bee, and she plans to do both.

Her love of reading has helped her spelling ability, her mom said.

Currently, she’s reading the 362-page “Grimm Legacy” by Polly Shulman.

“I’ve read two books this summer,” Ashleigh said. “I like fantasy books, and reading at night.”